Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

66 DHAMMAPADA.
through all our good resolutions. But as when •
roof is well stopped then the water cannot leak
through, so by controlling one's thoughts, and act-
ing with reflection, no such desires can arise or
disturb us."
The seventy Brahmans, on hearing these lines, although
convinced that their desires were reprehensible, yet were
not wholly free from doubt, nevertheless they went for-
ward.
As they advanced they saw some scented paper on the
ground, and Buddha took the opportunity of calling their
attention to it ; and after this, seeing some fish-gut also
lying about, he directed their notice to its ill-odour, and
then added these Hues, and said : ^
"He who consorts with the low and the base,
contracts the same character as he who handles a
foul substance ; he goes from worse to worse, and
utterly without reason, he perfects himself in wicked-
ness. But the wise man (consorting with the wise)
contracts the same character, even as the scent of a
sweet odour adheres to him who handles it; ad-
vancing in wisdom, practising virtue, he goes on to
perfection, and is satisfied."
The seventy Brahmans, hearing these verses, convinced
that their desire to return home and enjoy personal
indulgence was the evil taint' that adhered to them, cast
off such thoughts, and, going forward, came to the Vih§,ra,
and finally obtained the condition of Eahats.
3. In former days, when the nobleman Sudatta had
bought of the heir-apparent, Jeta, the ground for a Vih^a,
at Sr§,vastt, then the said nobleman had invited Buddha
1 This agrees with the story of Nanda ("Eomantic Legend," p. 376).
a